Mexican authorities find 8 bodies in Veracruz

Story highlights

35 bodies were abandoned in a roadway during rush hour there in September

Violence has surged in Veracruz in recent months

Authorities found eight bodies in a remote area in the Mexican coastal state of Veracruz Tuesday, officials said.

An anonymous tip led investigators to the scene, near a river that is a popular tourist attraction in the municipality of Boca del Rio, the Veracruz state government said in a statement.

Security forces were searching the area for suspects, the statement said.

In recent months, violence has surged in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, which is the third most populous state in Mexico, with more than 7 million residents.

In September, 35 bodies were abandoned in a roadway during rush-hour traffic in a popular tourist area of Boca del Rio, two days before a meeting of high-ranking state prosecutors and judges there.

In October, Mexican federal authorities announced plans to step up security in the state to help local police fight organized crime.

Several days later, a total of 32 bodies were found in three locations in Boca del Rio.

More than 43,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on cartels in December 2006, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.